Have you recently moved house or are you planning a style overhaul at home? Whether you’re revamping your bedroom, fitting a new kitchen or remodeling and redecorating the entire building, there are some essential considerations to bear in mind. If you’re an ambitious amateur interior designer, here are some tips to help you turn your ideas into reality.

Your budget

Interior makeovers can cost anywhere from a hundred dollars to a million dollars, depending on the scale of the project, the materials you use, the products you buy and how much you work you undertake. Unless you have a limitless budget, it’s always wise to start a remodel of any kind with a figure in mind. Budgeting can help you to plan how you’re going to spend your money, and it can also reduce the risk of overspending. Before you even look at brochures or interior magazines, check your finances and see how much you can afford to spend on the project. The next step is to get some quotes for the work you have in mind. If you’re looking for a decorator, a builder or a designer, or you want to fit a new bathroom or kitchen, it’s worth contacting several firms to compare prices before you make a decision. If you’re placing orders, paying bills or buying accessories, paint or furniture, update your budget as you go, so you know exactly how much you’ve spent.

Most of us consider our home a safe haven and a place where we can relax, be ourselves and enjoy quality time with our nearest and dearest. When you’re planning a revamp, bear your health and wellbeing in mind. If you suffer from health issues, you’re recovering from an injury or an accident or you’re keen to ensure that your home is an oasis that promotes positive wellbeing, it’s important to make plans accordingly.

If you struggle to get around and mobility is an issue, for example, consider the layout carefully when remodeling the kitchen. Wide, open spaces are a lot easier to negotiate than cramped kitchens that are packed with units and islands. If you have back pain or you suffer from discomfort related to conditions like arthritis, consider seating options carefully. You don’t want to be sat at the dining table on a hard, wooden chair or curled up on a couch that doesn’t have a high back. If you’re exploring alternatives to a traditional sofa, it’s worth checking out options like an overstuffed lounger. This comfortable bean bag is designed to support your entire body no matter what position you’re in, and it can be hugely beneficial for those who find it hard to get comfortable when watching TV or reading a book. If you’re keen to turn your home into a retreat and improve your mental health, devote areas to hobbies and interests and try and create spaces that are geared towards peace and tranquility. Your bedroom, for example, should be a sanctuary that makes you feel relaxed and calm. If you’ve got a spare room you never use, you have a large kitchen, or you don’t need the whole of the garage to store tools and house cars, you can use these areas to indulge your interests and passions. Whether you enjoy reading, writing, playing music, singing or doing DIY, it’s important that your home affords you the chance to spend time doing the things you love.

Your lifestyle should play a part in determining how you design your home. Think about how you live your life, how your family unit functions and how you spend your time. If you’ve got kids, for example, you need to bear practical considerations in mind. If you’ve got a tiny kitchen or bathroom, your home may not lend itself to family life, but don’t write it off just yet. It may be possible to add an extension or to knock walls through to open up the space. If you’ve got a huge laundry room or a dining room next to the kitchen, for example, get some quotes and go through some plans to knock through and create a much larger, more open kitchen-diner. This is much more practical for a growing family, and it could also add value to your home. If you’ve got a separate bathroom and toilet upstairs or you don’t need a guest room, you could also explore the option of switching the location of the bathroom or knocking down a wall to create one big bathroom. Adapting your home to suit your lifestyle doesn’t have to involve major changes in the layout or the structure of the building. Simple touches can often make all the difference. If you have small children, for example, it may be beneficial to section off an area of the kitchen and create a playroom. If you’ve got teenage kids, it could be an idea to put a desk in the spare bedroom to provide a quiet spot to do homework.

Think about how your home suits your lifestyle and what kinds of changes you could make to ensure your house works for you. Do you enjoy watching movies together as a family or are you a couple famed for throwing the best parties on the block? Are you outdoorsy types or do you work from home? You can use the space you have available both indoors and outdoors to cater for your lifestyle. Set up an office in a garden room or turn a spare room into a studio. Convert part of the garage into a bike, kayak and outdoor clothing and shoe store, or kit out the living room with floor cushions, bean bags and a projector ready for movie nights.

Interior design is all about making your home look the business, but it’s always wise to think about how the changes you make to your home will impact your future. Often, doing work to a property will increase its value, but this is not always the case. There are certain projects, which are likely to be much more lucrative than others. If you’re hoping to add value at the same time as enhancing the aesthetic of your home and making it more suitable for your lifestyle, it’s beneficial to do some research, get quotes and talk to real estate agents. If you’ve got prices for an attic conversion in front of you, for example, you can ask agents how much value the project is likely to add, and when you’ve got an answer, you can see if it’s worth going ahead with the remodel. Thinking about the future isn’t just about money. You may also be thinking about how your home could cater for your needs in years to come. You may be considering getting pets, you may be planning to start a family, or you might be thinking of adding to your brood. Perhaps you’re toying with the idea of running a business from home or asking your parents to move in with you as they get older and need more help. Whatever your situation, it’s a good idea to have one foot in the future. You may want to move in the next five years, but if you don’t, it’s worth considering how you could modify your home. Examples of projects that usually add substantial value to a property include attic and basement conversions, conservatories, kitchen makeovers and extensions. If you are mulling over ideas, get in touch with local experts and compare quotes before you make any final decisions. Make sure you have a written breakdown of costs before you sign on the dotted line or make a downpayment.

If you’re interested in interior design, you’ve probably noticed that trends come and go incredibly quickly. Trends influence us, but it’s important that you put your stamp on your home and you prioritize your taste and style. Don’t feel like you have to deck out a dining room in velvet curtains and animal print cushions just because you’ve seen the opulent trend featured in glossy magazines or coffee table books. Take a look at blogs, social media platforms and magazines, and pick out looks that you like. There is always a plethora of themes on the hot list in any given season, and you don’t have to embrace them all at the same time. Combine elements of looks that appeal to you and create an overall aesthetic that reflects your style and personality.

Are you thinking about revamping or refreshing your interiors, or are you looking to renovate or remodel your home? If your mind is bursting with ideas, the next step is to try and turn these musings into reality. Plan ahead, draw up a budget and work on designs that suit your lifestyle, reflect your personalities and promote health and happiness. If you are undertaking major projects, do some research beforehand, get several quotes and think about how the work will affect the value of the house.